Collapsible go-cart.



M. B. LLOYD.

ooLLAPsIBLE' Go-GART.

APPLICATION IILBD FEBJZ, 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M M M M. B. LLOYD.

GOLLAPSIBLE G0CART.

APPLICATION FILED rEB.12.191o.

LlQlLll., Patented Jau. 5, w15.

n 2 SHBBTS-SHBBT z.

THE NORRIS PETERS Co., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL B. LLOYD, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 THE LLOYD MANU- FACTURING CO., OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE GO-CART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed February 12, 1910. Serial No. 543,610.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARSHALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Menominee, county of Menominee, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Gro-Carts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the collapsible or foldable type of go-carts or baby-carriages. The principal feature of my ,invention lies in the provision of a carriage structure which by a single movement may either be completely and quickly folded into a compact parcel or opened up and transformed into condition for use. This I have made possible by providing a structure having a main frame upon which I have mounted all of the movable parts which are adapted to be folded or collapsed. These movable parts are all adapted to operate relatively to the main-frame and when collapsed are adapted to assume positions in intimate compact relation to said frame, the said parts being so connected with each other that the movement of a certain part, preferably the propelling or operating handle, will cause all of the parts to assume simultaneously one or the other of these positions, either open or folded.

In the preferred form of my invention the main frame is a horizontal rectangular shaped structure above which and pivotally connected to which is arranged the bodyframe or superstructure which carries the usual handle, canopy, seat and front apron. Below the main frame and pivoted thereon, at its lower side edges, to swing or fold inwardly into parallel relation with said main-frame are supplemental wheel-frames. The body-frame and supplemental wheelframes are interconnected by means of a system of levers and braces or links so arranged that when the body-frame is collapsed it will simultaneouslyl cause the supplemental wheel-frames to be folded inwardly and when opened will cause the wheel-frames to be projected outwardly. Preferably an operating handle'pivotally related to the main-frame is provided for controlling the actuation of said structure, the arrangement being such that by a single movement of the handle in one direction,

referably forward, the entire carriage will causedto fold at once into a compact and conveniently portable parcel, and likewise by a corresponding single reverse movement 1t will be opened.

Another feature of my invention lies in arranging certain of the parts, which operate to fold the supplemental wheel-frames, in such a manner that when the carriage is in use they will serve as braces to rigidly maintain the parts of the carriage in their extended positions.

Another feature lies in the association with the handle and body frame, in a conveniently accessible position, of locking members which are adapted to secure the structure against collapse when it is in use.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a babycarriage or go-cart illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the underside of said structure opened and showing the main-frame together with the cross-bars and braces for folding inwardly the supplemental wheel-frames; and Fig. 3 is a lower plan of the cart in folded condition.

Like parts will be referred to by similar reference characters throughout the several views.

In the structural embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I have provided a main-frame 1, a body-frame or superstructure 2, arranged to fold thereupon, and a pair of supplemental runninggear frames 3 arranged below the mainframe, said running-gear frames being preferably pivoted one on each side of said main-frame in such a manner that they can be collapsed and folded inwardly into intimate relation with and beneath the mainframe in order to form a compact parcel when the go-cart is not in use. I construct the main-frame 1 as a substantially plain open rectangular horizontal frame comprising a pair of side bars l and a pair of end bars l rigidly joined together, either integrally or otherwise, at the corners to constitute a foundation on which I build the superstructure 2 and on which the wheel frames 3 are pivotally mounted.

Each of the supplemental running-gear or wheel-carrying frames 3 comprises* a horizontal bar 3 having downwardly nevr turned ends to which are rigidly secured forward and rear vertical uprights 6 for transverse swinging connection to frame 1.

The said side frame parts 3 and@y for each side are preferably formed integrally from a single strip of metal looped downwardly at the ends of the horizontal part 3 with the ends of the strip extended upwardly to form the uprights 6. Each of the downwardly projecting loop-portions is formed to rigidly clasp and securely hold the inner end of a short journal stud 5 on the outwardly projecting portion ofwhich is journaled one of the road wheels 4t, The upper ends ofthe upright 6 are pivoted at points 7 tov lugs y8 depending from the underside of the main frame 1. Each frame 3 carries a front and a rear wheel .4 on its respective side of the main frame, and is adapted to be swung inwardlyand upwardly on the pivots 7 into substantially parallel relation with the main-frame l. The wheels being thus securely mounted on the opposite ends of the side-frames 3, and parallel therewith, are carried thereby into compact relation to theV main frame when the'frames 3 are re- `the two bars.y

tracted or folded -up against the underside of the main frame.

Attached to the main frame by pivots 10 on each side and on both the front and rear portions thereof are cross-bars or operating yokes 9. These cross-bars are U-shaped in form, their ends projecting upwardly, and are adapted to swing or oscillate backwardly and forwardly beneath the main frame on their pivots 10, asl shown by dotted lines on Fig. l. These cross bars 9 are connected for simultaneous movement by a longitudinal link 11 which pivotally connects the middle or lowermost parts of The cross bars 9 are also linked to the wheeled frames 3 by diagonal braces or links 12 which serve to swing the side frames in and out as the cross bars are swung, back and forth. These brace rods, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are arranged diagonally and serve to rigidly brace the wheeled-frames in open position. These brace-rods or links 12 are pivotally conf knected to said cross-bars 9 and frame-bars 3 by universal joints, desirably of the'construction shown at 13 and 14, the braces being"v looped at their ends., and entering perforated lugs provided therefor on the wheel` frames 3 and engaging similar or equivalent pivoting means on the cross bars 9. These peculiar joints which are very cheaply prof duced readily permit the brace rods 12 to adapt themselves to the relative change in position and direction of movement of the cross-bars 91 and the supplemental wheelframes 3, when said wheel-frames are oscillat'ed. or vswung either .outwardly or in-- wardly in y openingjzzoi1 closing the cart. Whenvthe vehicle-is in use the braces 1121 are spread widely apart to hold the wheel frames projected in vertical position beneath the side bars of the main frame, but when the device is folded the inner ends of the braces engaging the controlling yokes or cross-bars 9 are drawn diagonally upward toward the rear, and said braces are partially folded together to a more parallel relation, their forward ends being drawn inwardly and upwardly toward the center of the main-frame and thus serving to swing the wheel-frames 3 inwardly in substantially parallel relation to the main frame.

Above the main-frame 1 is the superstructure 2 which is arranged in the form of a pair of duplicate parallelograins one,l on each side of the main-frame. Each parallelogram comprises a side bar l of the mainframe l, an upwardly projecting bar 20 at the forward end and a handle bar 21 projecting' upwardly at the rear end, the said bars 20 and 21 being operatively connected together at or near their upper ends by links or arm-bars 23 substantially parallel with the main-frame l. The arm-bars are attached by pivots 24 and 25 to the bars 20 and 21 respectively.

The rear bars 21 have preferably integral extensions 30 which are connected transversely at their upper ends and are adapted to serve as an operating handle for the carriage. The bars 21 with their extensions 30 and with the upper cross connection constitute as a whole a propelling handle, which is also a lever which is pivoted at 22 to the main frame 1, and serves as a convenient operating means by which to collapse the entire structure.

The bars 20 are in reality merely upward extensions of the forward yoke or cross-bar 9 and together serve as one arm of a lever of which, the downwardly projecting.; U- shaped cross-bar is the other arm, the complete yoke or cross bar lever9 being pil-voted vat the forwardpivot points 10. This cross bar lever, as shown, serves as the operatingv member or connection extending between the arm-bars 23 operated by the propelling handlel and the braces 12 which control the wheel `frames 3 to cause the said wheel `fram-es tol be retracted or folded inwardly the handle. By pressingfupward atfthe lokngf'hnge, vOrrknuckle 29' of the toggle as indicated by. the; arrowfon v Eig." 1, the-tog- 'use and when itjisbeing pushed along by v Y glefwill double up and will then permit the handle to be moved or rotated forward as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l to collapse the entire carriage.

As before noted, the forward cross bar 9 and its upward extensions 20 form a lever pivoted at 10 to the main-frame. This lever, as stated, serves as a means for transmitting movement between the superstructure and the supplemental wheel-frames. Manifestly, then, if the operating handle 30 be released, by raising the toggle lock 29, and be pushed or rotated forward, it will cause the links or arm bars 23 and the crossbar extensions 20 to move forward to collapse the superstructure. The forward cross-bar 9 will at such time be swung in the opposite or rearward direction on its pivot 10, and through the link 11 will transmit a similar movement to the rear crossbar 9. This rearward movement of the cross-bars 9, as before explained, withdraws the frames 3 from their extended positions and folds them inwardly against and beneath the main-frame. The handle 30 is swung on `the pivot 22 sufiiciently to bring it into substantially parallel relation to the main-frame 1. The arm-bars 23 and the cross-bars 9 are thereby necessarily moved into position closely adjacent to the upperside of and substantially parallel with the plane of the main-frame. rllhe wheelframes 3 and the wheels thereon are also folded to a similarl position parallel with and adjacent to the underside of the mainframe.

It will thus be seen that in this structure the swinging forward of the-operating handle on its pivots, when it is desired to fold the vehicle, will simultaneously cause the superstructure to collapse and the wheelframes to fold or swing into intimate relation with the main-frame 1. Furthermore, the braces 12 are diagonally related to the r horizontal bars 3 and when the carriage is opened by the opening out of the handle the braces 12 push out mutually wedgingly by a kind of toggle action, and the wheel frames are thereby restored to their normal upright positions, and the braces 12 serve to rigidly and strongly hold them in said normal positions, thereby preventing the wheelframes from caving in or collapsing while the carriage is in use.

The usual body 35, which may be made of cloth or any suitable material, together with its seat back 3G and the apron 37 may be supported in the superstructure in any suitable manner. In the structure shown in the drawings, the body is suspended from the horizontal arm-bars 23, the apron 37 being supported by suitable means at the forward end of the main-frame. The usual canopy 33 is shown pivoted at 34 to the horizontal links or arm-bars 23. The body 35, front apron 37, and canopy 33 being of y As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, l do not conne or limit my invention to the specific structure herein shown and described.

llaving thus described my invention, l claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patept:

1. ln a collapsible baby-carriage, the combination with a main frame, of a handle and a pair of supplemental wheel-frames associated with said main-frame and adapted to swing into parallel relation to said main-frame, yoke members pivoted upon and depending from said main-frame, links connecting said yoke members with said wheel frames. and means interconnecting said handle and said yoke members to swing said wheel-frames into parallel relation when pressure is applied to said handle.

2. 1n a collapsible baby-carriage, the combination with a main frame, of a handle pivoted to said frame, running gear frames suspended at the sides of said frame and adapted to swing inwardly into substantially parallel relation to said frame, a lever piijoted to said frame, a pair of yokes swingably mounted en said main frame, a link interconnecting said yokes below said main frame, brace links connecting said wheel frames with said yokes, meansY connecting one of said yokes with said handle for swinging said gear frames into parallel relation with said main frame.

3. In a collapsible baby-carriage, the combination with a rectangular main frame, of a collapsible superstructure supported by said frame and adapted to collapse into intimate relation to said frame, supplemental wheel frames adapted to fold inwardly, cross bars pivoted to and depending from said main frame, braces universally jointed to said supplemental frames and to said cross-bars` a link connecting said cross bars, and extensions on one of said cross-bars forming a part of said superstructure.

l. In a collapsible baby-carriage the combination with a rectangular open mainframe, of supplemental wheel-frames pivotally secured to the sides of said mainframe and adapted to fold inwardly beneath said frame, transverse bars pivoted to the sides of said main frame, one of said baars having extensions projecting upwardly, a collapsible superstructure formed in part b y said extensions, brace rods extending between said cross-bars and said wheel frames, and a link connecting said cross-bars.

n a collapsible baby-carriage the combination with a main-frame, wheel fra-mes adapted to fold inwardly, a body frame adapted to collapse into intimate relation to said main frame, a depending extension on the forward part of said body frame, links connecting said wheel frames with said extension for folding said wheel frames simultaneously with the collapse of said bodyframe, and a handle for collapsing' said body-frame.

G. A collapsible go-cart comprising a main frame, in combination with wheels, wheel frames pivotally joining the wheels to the main frame, members fore and aft of said main frame and movable witli respect to the main frame, diagonal braces extending from said members to respective wheelframes, and mechanism for moving said members with respect to the main frame to fold and open the wheel frames.

7. A collapsible go-cart comprising a main frame, in combination with wheels, wheel-frames pivotally joining the Wheels to the main frame, members positioned fore and aft on said main frame and movable with respect to the main frame, diagonal braces extending from said members to respective wheel-frames, mechanism for moving said members with respect to the main frame, and a locking` device for securing said members and main frame in fixed relation to secure the wheels in opened position.

8. In a collapsible go-cart a substantially horizontal main frame, in combination with wheel-frames pivotally attached to the sides of the main frame, a wheel-frame operatingmember movably attachedto said main frame, and depending below said frame, and diagonal actuating brace rods extending therefrom to said wheel-frames for communicating the movements of said member to said wheel-frames, substantially as ldescribed.

9. A multiple part toggle lever operating mechanism for collapsible ,go-carts comprising main arms, a middle link, U-shaped in cross-section and containing the ends of` said arms, and two pivots joining the link to respective ends of the main arms, said pivots, arm ends and link being positioned to pass centers and assume a rigid position.

l0. A collapsible go-cart comi'irising a main frame, in combination with supplemental wheel-framespivoted on the sides thereof, wheel-frame actuating members pivotally arranged on said main frame, diagonal braces joining respective' members with oppositepoints on said wheel frames, a propelling handle pivoted on the main frame. means connecting the handle with one of said members, through the medium of which relative movement of the main frame and handle is communicated to the wheel-frames, and a lock for securing the several parts in opened condition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of January, 1910, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL B. LL() 'Witnesses CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEf, JOHN R. LEFEvRE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o1 rate-ntl,

Washington, D. C. 

